Marketing and Midstream Revenues and Expenses
Marketing and midstream revenues and expenses are derived primarily from our gas processing plants and gas pipeline systems. These revenues and expenses vary in response to several factors. The factors include, but are not limited to, changes in production from wells connected to the pipelines and related processing plants, changes in the absolute and relative prices of gas and NGLs, provisions of contractual agreements and the amount of repair and maintenance activity required to maintain anticipated processing levels and pipeline throughput volumes.
These factors increase the uncertainty inherent in estimating future marketing and midstream revenues and expenses. Given these uncertainties, we estimate that our 2008 marketing and midstream operating profit will be between $510 million and $550 million. We estimate that marketing and midstream revenues will be between $1.61 billion and $2.01 billion, and marketing and midstream expenses will be between $1.10 billion and $1.46 billion.
Production and Operating Expenses
Our production and operating expenses include lease operating expenses, transportation costs and production taxes. These expenses vary in response to several factors. Among the most significant of these factors are additions to or deletions from the property base, changes in the general price level of services and materials that are used in the operation of the properties, the amount of repair and workover activity required and changes in production tax rates. Oil, gas and NGL prices also have an effect on lease operating expenses and impact the economic feasibility of planned workover projects.
Given these uncertainties, we expect that our 2008 lease operating expenses will be between $2.17 billion to $2.24 billion. Additionally, we estimate that our production taxes for 2008 will be between 3.5% and 4.0% of total oil, gas and NGL revenues, excluding the effect on revenues from financial collars and price swap contracts upon which production taxes are not assessed.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization ("DD&A")
Our 2008 oil and gas property DD&A rate will depend on various factors. Most notable among such factors are the amount of proved reserves that will be added from drilling or acquisition efforts in 2008 compared to the costs incurred for such efforts, and the revisions to our year-end 2007 reserve estimates that, based on prior experience, are likely to be made during 2008.
Given these uncertainties, we estimate that our oil and gas property-related DD&A rate will be between $12.75 per Boe and $13.25 per Boe. Based on these DD&A rates and the production estimates set forth earlier, oil and gas property related DD&A expense for 2008 is expected to be between $3.09 billion and $3.20 billion.
Additionally, we expect that our depreciation and amortization expense related to non-oil and gas property fixed assets will total between $260 million and $270 million in 2008.
Accretion of Asset Retirement Obligation
Accretion of asset retirement obligation in 2008 is expected to be between $75 million and $85 million.
General and Administrative Expenses ("G&A")
Our G&A includes employee compensation and benefits costs and the costs of many different goods and services used in support of our business. G&A varies with the level of our operating activities and the related staffing and professional services requirements. In addition, employee compensation and benefits costs vary due to various market factors that affect the level and type of compensation and benefits offered to employees. Also, goods and services are subject to general price level increases or decreases. Therefore, significant variances in any of these factors from current expectations could cause actual G&A to vary materially from the estimate.
Given these limitations, we estimate our G&A for 2008 will be between $590 million and $610 million. This estimate includes approximately $90 million of non-cash, share-based compensation, net of related capitalization in accordance with the full cost method of accounting for oil and gas properties.
Reduction of Carrying Value of Oil and Gas Properties
We follow the full cost method of accounting for our oil and gas properties described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates." Reductions to the carrying value of our oil and gas properties are largely dependent on the success of drilling results and oil and natural gas prices at the end of our quarterly reporting periods. Due to the uncertain nature of future drilling efforts and oil and natural gas prices, we are not able to predict whether we will incur such reductions in 2008.
Interest Expense
Future interest rates and debt outstanding have a significant effect on our interest expense. We can only marginally influence the prices we will receive in 2008 from sales of oil, gas and NGLs and the resulting cash flow. Likewise, we can only marginally influence the timing of the closing of our West African divestitures and the attendant cash receipts. These factors increase the margin of error inherent in estimating future outstanding debt balances and related interest expense. Other factors that affect outstanding debt balances and related interest expense, such as the amount and timing of capital expenditures are generally within our control.
Based on the information related to interest expense set forth below, we expect our 2008 interest expense to be between $340 million and $350 million. This estimate assumes no material changes in prevailing interest rates. This estimate also assumes no material changes in our expected level of indebtedness, except for an assumption that our commercial paper and credit facility borrowings will decrease in conjunction with the planned divestiture of our West African operations, which we are optimistic will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2008.
The interest expense in 2008 related to our fixed-rate debt, including net accretion of related discounts, will be approximately $385 million. This fixed-rate debt removes the uncertainty of future interest rates from some, but not all, of our long-term debt.
Our floating rate debt is comprised of variable-rate commercial paper and borrowings against our senior credit facility. Our floating rate debt is summarized in the following table:
| Debt Instrument | Notional Amount(1) | Floating Rate |
|---|---|---|
| (In millions) | ||
| Commercial paper | $ 1,004 | Various(2) |
| Senior credit facility | $ 1,450 | Various(3) |
(1) Represents outstanding balance as of December 31, 2007.
(2) The interest rate is based on a standard index such as the Federal Funds Rate, LIBOR, or the money market rate as found on the commercial paper market. As of December 31, 2007, the average rate on the outstanding balance was 5.07%.
(3) The borrowings under the senior credit facility bear interest at various fixed rate options for periods of up to twelve months and are generally less than the prime rate. As of December 31, 2007, the average rate on the outstanding balance was 5.27%.
Based on estimates of future LIBOR and prime rates as of December 31, 2007, interest expense on floating rate debt, including net amortization of premiums, is expected to total between $70 million and $80 million in 2008.
Our interest expense totals include payments of facility and agency fees, amortization of debt issuance costs and other miscellaneous items not related to the debt balances outstanding. We expect between $5 million and $15 million of such items to be included in our 2008 interest expense. Also, we expect to capitalize between $120 million and $130 million of interest during 2008, including amounts related to our discontinued operations.
Other Income
We estimate that our other income in 2008 will be between $55 million and $75 million.
As of the end of 2007, we had received insurance claim settlements related to the 2005 hurricanes that were $150 million in excess of amounts incurred to repair related damages. None of this $150 million excess has been recognized as income, pending the resolution of the amount of future necessary repairs and the settlement of certain claims that have been filed with secondary insurers. Based on the most recent estimates of our costs for repairs, we believe that some amount will ultimately be recorded as other income. However, the timing and amount that would be recorded as other income are uncertain. Therefore, the 2008 estimate for other income above does not include any amount related to hurricane proceeds.
Income Taxes
Our financial income tax rate in 2008 will vary materially depending on the actual amount of financial pre-tax earnings. The tax rate for 2008 will be significantly affected by the proportional share of consolidated pre-tax earnings generated by U. S., Canadian and International operations due to the different tax rates of each country. There are certain tax deductions and credits that will have a fixed impact on 2008 income tax expense regardless of the level of pre-tax earnings that are produced.
Given the uncertainty of pre-tax earnings, we expect that our consolidated financial income tax rate in 2008 will be between 20% and 40%. The current income tax rate is expected to be between 10% and 15%. The deferred income tax rate is expected to be between 10% and 25%. Significant changes in estimated capital expenditures, production levels of oil, gas and NGLs, the prices of such products, marketing and midstream revenues, or any of the various expense items could materially alter the effect of the aforementioned tax deductions and credits on 2008 financial income tax rates.
Discontinued Operations
As previously discussed, in November 2007, we announced an agreement to sell our operations in Gabon for $205.5 million. We are finalizing purchase and sales agreements and obtaining the necessary partner and government approvals for the remaining properties in the West African divestiture package. We are optimistic we can complete these sales during the first half of 2008.
The following table presents the 2008 estimates for production, production and operating expenses and capital expenditures associated with these discontinued operations. These estimates include amounts related to all assets in the West African divestiture package for the first half of 2008. Pursuant to accounting rules for discontinued operations, the West African assets are not subject to DD&A during 2008.
| Oil production (MMBbls) | 4 | ||
| Gas production (Bcf) | 3 | ||
| Total production (MMBoe) | 4 | ||
Production and operating expenses (In millions) |
$ | 30 | |
| Capital expenditures (In millions) | $ | 50 |